2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assesments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS-S. Teachers:
1. design or adapt relevant learning experience that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
2. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
3. customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
4. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching
Reflection: Language arts as well as the other disciplines have many standards for students to work with and master. Therefore, the Brainpops website is a very beneficial activity to integrate into the curriculum. This site is very user-friendly, and it helps to reinforce skills in multiple areas- math, science, social studies, language arts etc. Brainpops utilize short cartoon reviews about a specific topic and then the students are given a 10 question multiple choice quiz to check for comprehension. Students vary in strengths and weaknesses; therefore, this site is good for adjusting to student needs. Students may retake the quizzes as many times as needed to demonstrate mastery of the particular skill and/or concept. This allows students to work at their individual pace, and they may work with this site from school and/or home.
I have my students complete a list of 10 brainpops per assignment. They are given 3 weeks to complete the list in any order they choose. They are required to accomplish this assignment on their own time. While they may choose to work on these during study hall, they may also choose to complete them at home. Students must earn an 8/10 per brainpop. But, if they work to earn 10/10 on the list of 10, they receive bonus points for their "extra" effort. While brainpops help teachers by providing extra practice in skill areas, brainpops serve to show students their strengths and weakness in certain areas. Students see for themselves where they need to put forth more effort. And, by students working on their own, students that don't need the extra practice are not held back while others that require additional time may do so. This process works well as many of the teachers in my building utilize this learning tool, so students are comfortable with the process and understand what goals they need to accomplish. In addition to attaching the link to the website, I have attached the grading rubric used to score student work. Each student turns in hard copies of each test for that "batch." Then, I review the hard copies and transfer the grades to the rubric which are then returned to the students. Additionally, we play "board races" after the process is complete, so that I can informally assess whether the students retaining the skills. Overall, many students are retaining the information and skills that they are practicing using this process. Brainpops appeal to students and seem to be just as if not more effective than "drill & kill"
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assesments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS-S. Teachers:
1. design or adapt relevant learning experience that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
2. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
3. customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
4. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching
Reflection: Language arts as well as the other disciplines have many standards for students to work with and master. Therefore, the Brainpops website is a very beneficial activity to integrate into the curriculum. This site is very user-friendly, and it helps to reinforce skills in multiple areas- math, science, social studies, language arts etc. Brainpops utilize short cartoon reviews about a specific topic and then the students are given a 10 question multiple choice quiz to check for comprehension. Students vary in strengths and weaknesses; therefore, this site is good for adjusting to student needs. Students may retake the quizzes as many times as needed to demonstrate mastery of the particular skill and/or concept. This allows students to work at their individual pace, and they may work with this site from school and/or home.
I have my students complete a list of 10 brainpops per assignment. They are given 3 weeks to complete the list in any order they choose. They are required to accomplish this assignment on their own time. While they may choose to work on these during study hall, they may also choose to complete them at home. Students must earn an 8/10 per brainpop. But, if they work to earn 10/10 on the list of 10, they receive bonus points for their "extra" effort. While brainpops help teachers by providing extra practice in skill areas, brainpops serve to show students their strengths and weakness in certain areas. Students see for themselves where they need to put forth more effort. And, by students working on their own, students that don't need the extra practice are not held back while others that require additional time may do so. This process works well as many of the teachers in my building utilize this learning tool, so students are comfortable with the process and understand what goals they need to accomplish. In addition to attaching the link to the website, I have attached the grading rubric used to score student work. Each student turns in hard copies of each test for that "batch." Then, I review the hard copies and transfer the grades to the rubric which are then returned to the students. Additionally, we play "board races" after the process is complete, so that I can informally assess whether the students retaining the skills. Overall, many students are retaining the information and skills that they are practicing using this process. Brainpops appeal to students and seem to be just as if not more effective than "drill & kill"
Artifact:Brainpops